Birmingham City’s record breaking season.
After breaking the all-time EFL points record earlier this week with a win against Blackpool, EFL Content Officer Will Evans digs at Birmingham City’s amazing, record-breaking season in Sky Bet League 1.
Birmingham City’s primary goal since their third-tier trip began last August has always been promotion back to the Championship, but achieving so in style was a dream. Few league campaigns have been more successful than this one. Promotion, the title, and a trip to Wembley were all secured in a single amazing week in April. You could not script it. Birmingham were clearly bolstered by summer investment in the playing staff, with Jay Stansfield joining for a League One record amount, as well as the signings of Christoph Klarer and Tomoki Iwata. However, excellent recruitment does not necessarily translate into guaranteed success on the football, and most of the credit goes to rookie manager Chris Davies.
Birmingham, backed by American owners Knighthead and a board that includes NFL icon Tom Brady, could be forgiven for hiring a big-name coach solely to boost the gloss of their high-profile rebuild. Instead, they made a sensible investment by hiring Davies, 40, whose elite coaching experience under Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou went mostly unnoticed. He has been the driving force behind the Blues’ unwavering intensity throughout the season, and while he maintains humble by focussing on everyone other than himself, he was recently crowned Manager of the Season at the EFL Awards. “When I originally arrived at Birmingham City, I couldn’t have asked for a finer situation. “The season has exceeded my expectations,” Davies said during the event.
“Expectations have been extremely high, but we have dealt with it by focussing on how we play the games, training and preparing, and then hoping for the wins to follow. “The players have been unbelievable, that’s why I’m here today with this award, because of them and the staff.” It’s their preparation, unwavering determination, and capacity to never let up that has gotten them where they want to go. After earning promotion, he stated, “The Club and everyone have suffered for a long time.” It’s fantastic to be able to rekindle their interest in football and bring them joy [via promotion]. “The fans have been fantastic; it’s a great club, and they’ve certainly backed us throughout the season. There’s enough hard times in football, but when it’s good, you have to enjoy it.”
A historic ‘legacy’
This team has maintained a laser-like focus since the beginning. They succeeded in their aim to become one of the most memorable teams in EFL history. With 108 points, two more than Reading’s famed 2005/06 Championship team, the Blues now stand alone at the pinnacle of English football history. While there is little doubt that attention inside St Andrews will be firmly focused on the challenge that awaits next season, the enormity of this achievement is evident, as repeated by the manager. “Think how many football teams there have been, how many seasons there have been,” the BBC’s Davies said. “We are the side with the most points in English football history. To achieve 108 points is truly special and a remarkable achievement.
“I had spoken to the players about the legacy we could leave this season and the mark we could make in the footballing world.” “I’ve been drilling it into them that chasing a record like this isn’t a club record, and it’s not something people will overlook. “Everyone will know what we did.”
The Tom Brady effect
The players and staff had arguably larger expectations than any other Club at this level in history. It wasn’t simply the money invested; it was also the added exposure generated by the presence of NFL legend Brady, whose arrival drew comparisons to Wrexham’s Hollywood ownership combination, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Though the 47-year-old’s role in the Blues’ day-to-day operations is restricted, his impact remains important. He understands what it takes to win at the highest level, and he’s been eager to convey that philosophy on to the team. “I had a competitiveness edge during my career, but in this part of my life, I want to see other people reach their potential,” Brady told Sky Sports.
“I was fortunate to have so many mentors throughout my career who allowed me to improve, and I want to pass on the skills I developed as a player to these boys. “They have exciting careers ahead of them, and they want to make a difference in the lives of their own families as well as the communities in which they play. So it’s about how we can help them, and I enjoy being a part of that.” It is something that Blues manager Davies understands, since he cherishes Brady’s contribution, even if it comes from a distance. “It’s like having a world-class consultant, one of the greats, that I can speak to at any time,” Davies told The Telegraph.
“I’ve worked with several outstanding players at Liverpool and Tottenham, and Tom embodies their very similar mentalities. There is an unwavering desire and enthusiasm for greatness.”
Consistency on the pitch With a new manager and several new faces, it can take some time for everyone to adjust. However, in this situation, the opposite was true. The West Midlands-based club jumped out of the gate, going unbeaten in their first 15 league games of the season, and with only three defeats this season, they’ve been head and shoulders above the competition. A large portion of this can be attributable to the new immigrants. Jay Stansfield, a talismanic goalscorer, has contributed to numerous victories, scoring 19 league goals overall. Birmingham’s success has not been limited to their assault. Tomoki Iwata, a Japanese midfielder, also deserves praise. His superb composure throughout possession and ability to read the gamefrom the middle of the park earned him a deserved nomination for the League One Player of the Season award.
Defensively, Christoph Klarer and Ben Davies’ unwavering connection has also laid a solid foundation. As has custodian Ryan Allsop, who brings his own narrative of stepping down from the Championship to join his boyhood club. With 20 clean sheets and counting, he will be awarded the League One Golden Glove on the final day of the season, adding to the Club’s ever-growing list of accomplishments. “As a boyhood Birmingham City fan, and with my family still living in the area, I was desperate to come here,” says Allsop. “It was early last summer. I understood there was an opportunity to discuss a relocation, and as soon as that was an option for me, it was something I wanted to explore.
“Even coming from a Championship club, it was an easy decision. Not simply because I am a fan, but also because of the Club’s aspirations. I really wanted to be a part of this experience.” With a few more astute additions on the way, the fanbase believes that the sky is the limit for this squad, who will be more than capable of holding their own and possibly thriving upon their return to the Championship.
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